CP Radhakrishnan, who is a BJP politician in Tamil Nadu has sworn in Friday as India’s 15th Vice-President in a ceremony held in Rashtrapati Bhavan. The oath-taking function was performed by President Droupadi Murmu at 10.10 am.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Vice Presidents Jagdeep Dhankhar and M. Venkaiah Naidu, former President Ram Nath Kovind and several prominent Union ministers including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari, were among some of the guests present at the ceremony.
Radhakrishnan, 67, had a comfortable victory in the vice-presidential poll in the election held this week. He was the candidate of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and secured 452 votes against the Opposition INDIA block’s candidate and former judge of the Supreme Court B. Sudershan Reddy’s total of 300 votes. The NDA’s vote-counting numbers rounded-up with the assistance of the allies like the YSR Congress Party compelled the win.
LIVE: Swearing-in-Ceremony of the Vice President-elect of India Shri C P Radhakrishnan https://t.co/dQbY3tRks9
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 12, 2025
The election was warranted after the abrupt resignation of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21 over health concerns. Radhakrishnan officially stepped down as Maharashtra Governor on Thursday before taking the oath. In the meantime, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat has been reassigned as governor until a new appointment is made.
Radhakrishnan, lifelong member of the RSS, rose through the BJP from his political origins in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu. He has served as Tamil Nadu BJP president and was elected twice to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore. The BJP’s VP action demonstrates its intent to solidify its existence in Tamil Nadu through Dravidian votes, and counter with anti-Hindutva messaging campaigns, while quietly ideologically defending itself against new regional currents such as Vijay’s TVK. Also with political alignments beginning to shape as parties outline strategies for Assembly polls in 2026, the action may also shape governmental alignments, voter emotions, and a sense of regional solidarity around something akin to Dravidianism.
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
